Nikkō

Didn't manage to write last night. Left from Ohara yesterday a tad later than expected and arrived – after plenty of kombini stops – rather late at night in the hotel (Utsunomiya).
Utsunomiya lies about an hour's drive southeast from Nikkō.
I'd searched online to see if there's a Bookoff store in the area, in order to do some vinyl hunting. (Bookoff is a great chain of second hand stores where you can find anything you'd want and don't want at very honest and fair prices.)
The Bookoff store turned out to be a pile of (only) Japanese records. Not what I was after.
Turned out, that there was an amazing small cozy record shop about a stone's throw from the hotel.
Found it, dived in and spent a good 2 hours in there. Twenty hours would have been more sufficient though.
After a small record shopping spree I went to a small ramen restaurant (with delicious (and big) gyoza).
After some refreshing sleep (always in the mountains) it was time to get some 7/11 coffee and a beef potato croquette before setting off towards Nikkō.
The drive up there was through some stunning nature and scenery. It reminded me a bit of when I was in Canada during Indian summer – or at least the color palette did – a never ending wave of browns, yellows, reds, etc.
Paid a small visit to Lake Chūzenji (altitude 1,269 meters) which was a stunning sight but left rather soon again; too many irritating, noise producing, non mannered, arrogant gaijin. Seriously, why do people always behave like disrespectful cunts?!
Anyway, made my way to the Akechidaira Ropeway bridge which provided some awesome sights and scenery.
And 99% less gaijin tourists – which is always a big bonus.
Had a proper walk around while getting high on the amazingly fresh air up there.
By the time I finished my little walkabout there, the sun was starting to set. So back to the hotel in Utsunomiya.
But had a proper stopover first to do some shopping at one of my favourite shops in Japan... Muji.
Oh – and had my first ever donuts from "Mister Donut".
I had four – they were good.

Bedtime...
おやすみ